Super Rare 1939 GM Futurliner For Sale, Costs A Fortune

In 1936, GM launched the Parade of Progress, a traveling exhibit that promoted the cars and technology of the future. GM used eight streamlined buses to showcase the exhibits. Three years later, GM research manager Charles Kettering asked Harley Earl to design a more spectacular vehicle for the parade. Earl invented the Futurliner.

Heavily inspired by the Art Deco movement, the Futurliner incorporated a huge display area and a tall cabin with a central driving position. The Futurliner was 33 feet long, 8 feet wide, and over 11 feet tall. It weighed over 12 tons and featured twin wheels on all four corners.

General Motors built 12 of these show buses. Introduced at the 1939 New York World's Fair, the Futurliners were later displayed in the Parade of Progress in 1940 and 1941. When the parade returned in 1953, the vehicles were refurbished and operated until 1956.

Of the 12 original Futurliners, eight are known to still exist. All are in private hands, except for the one donated to the National Automotive and Truck Museum, and some are at auto shows. The Futurliner you see here is one of those vehicles. And unlike its siblings, it has been put up for sale, which is a very rare occurrence.

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the bus appears to be in excellent condition on the outside. Likely restored a few years ago, it sports the original red and white paint scheme and aluminum side panels. The cab retains much of the original design, although some modern updates are visible. The bus offers seating for two passengers behind the driver. The display area has also been restored, so the bus can still serve as a rolling showcase.

By the way, the Futurliner runs and drives. According to the seller, it can reach over 50 mph on the highway. The steering has been improved with power steering for easier operation. On the other hand, the bus no longer relies on its original engine. This Futurliner has been re-fitted with a Detroit Diesel 4-71.

Part of a series of engines produced from 1938 to 1995, the 4-71 is a 284-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) four-cylinder unit. It was factory-rated at 152-190 horsepower, but the horsepower of this specific engine is unknown. An Allison automatic transmission sends the power to the wheels.

The ad mentions that “the original gas engine and transmission are included in the sale.” Futurliners were originally powered by four-cylinder diesel engines, but GM switched to inline-six gasoline units in 1953. The seller is likely talking about the latter, a 302-cubic-inch (5.0-liter) engine made by GMC. The transmission should be a four-speed manual.

According to the seller, this Futurliner is believed to be the #7 hauler used for the “Out of the City Muddle” exhibit. However, the “Peter Pan” lettering on the sides means we could be looking at vehicle #6, currently owned by Peter Pan Bus Lines. This hauler was used for the “Energy & Man” exhibit and was recovered from a cornfield in the 1990s.

The bus is listed for $998,900, and the seller has made it clear that he won't accept “outrageous offers.” And if you think that's a lot of money for an old bus, other examples have changed hands for much more. Futurliner No. 11, for example, has sold for $4 million twice (in 2006 and 2015). Hauler No. 3 hasn't sold despite a high bid of $2.6 million in 2016. I'm tempted to say that this one is actually pretty good value. What do you think?